Author: Andrea Orellana

They say that the time you spend in college molds the person you become as a full-fledged adult. What they never say is where most of your information will come from: not from that professor with the argyle sweater and fake British accent, but from the characters in your… Read the rest at our website.

In 2006, some network executives declared that desperately rich “housewives” were entertaining enough to put on TV and damn, did they stumble onto something. Since then, Bravo’s Real Housewives series has been delighting and depressing audiences with its focus on obscene displays of wealth. Watching people, in this case… Read the rest at our website.

When I was younger, I wanted to be a psychologist. I thought ink blots looked funny and I enjoyed the idea of hearing what others thought about all day long. Later on, I decided I wanted to be a psychologist-teacher hybrid because I watched that movie Matilda where the… Read the rest at our website.

Not unlike Jason Bourne, America is having an identity crisis. We don’t know who we are as individuals unless our titles as citizens are modified to include our heritage. No American is simply an American and every important piece of paperwork we fill out is proof of that. From… Read the rest at our website.

Granddaughter Crisis Dear Andrea, I am a grandmother, 59 years old, and an MDC student. In 2009 my older son was killed and he left a daughter behind, who will be 3 years old in December. The mother has refused to let my son’s family be part of our… Read the rest at our website.

Whenever bullying comes up, I think about how genuinely lucky I feel to have dodged, somehow, the childhood horror of being pushed around. The only reason I even know what bullying is has a lot to do with the fact that I’ve always been partial to Nick-at-Nite and its… Read the rest at our website.

Not So Casual Dear Andrea, I had casual sex for the first time recently. I always knew I didn’t believe in it. My parents always taught against it, especially me, their only daughter. But I wanted to challenge my beliefs. It was my first and my last time. It… Read the rest at our website.

Dear Andrea, What should I do if I end up getting a clogged schedule for things to do for the weekdays-not counting classes-and I end up not getting them all done? -Ben S. Dear Ben S., I see that happen a lot—you’re a victim of college. What you’re not… Read the rest at our website.

Ask Andrea is an advice column run by Andrea Orellana, forum editor for The Reporter. To submit a question, send a 250- word email to andrea.orellana001@mymdc.net. All content is subject to editing for clarity. Dear Andrea, I am a teacher and I tutor on the side. Back in March… Read the rest at our website.